Sunday, 15 January 2012

Why Arsenal need a change

Arsenal have looked abysmal for periods of the last two league games. They've looked really good during spells of those games, like the first half against Fulham and a couple of spells against Swansea in the first half.

But the problems are mounting. I was talking to another Arsenal fan on Twitter prior to the Swansea game and he agreed that we need to switch to 4-4-2 for some games. Today might not necessarily be one due to the midfield/ possession battle but for home games against teams outside the top 6, we should be doing this. A second thing is we need a change of mentality. We just don't seem as attacking at the moment. We seem over- cautious when in the lead and seem to lack urgency and a game plan. It's like they're making it up as they go along. Players are getting draggedout of position and often don't look like they knoe whether to attack or defend, whether to close down or stand off.

We lack creativity too and our passing game isn't as good at the moment. We seem to too eager to get the ball out wide and crossed into the box, where there is usually just one player (van Persie) there. Our game plan often makes no sense, which links into the 'we seem to make it up as we go along' point. We shouldn't lack the passing ability or the ability to dominate possession seen as we still have very good technical players such as Ramsey, Song, Arteta and Benayoun to do this. It bemuses me how we seem less determined to keep possession and carve open defences like we used to.

Similar to this, in terms of our game plan problems, is how we just sat back at Fulham in the second half after playing really well in the first half. Why did we do this? We had control of the game and just seemed to invite Fulham on to create chances. We took this into the Swansea game, sitting back at 1-0 and trying less hard to attack and score. Wenger has nevstyle, but it's just another example of centre backs being a lot less comfortable when they have two strikers to worry about. Also, imagine how amazing van Persie would be if he had a partner with him.

This transpires to the fact that Wenger needs to do this, or go. He needs to sign a couple of players, or go. We need a manager who isn't afraid to spend money, and who is going to change the team's approach (i.e. 4-4-2 and play with more urgency and a game plan). Imagine if we had Demaba Ba and van Persie up front together. If we sign 2 players, we could be a very good side. But at the moment we are just 'decent'. We need a breath of fresh air and changing the approach and signing new players would do this. I know it's not easy to sign players in January bla bla bla, but come on, if you offer enough money, and go for the right players, there will be options. It's going to be more costly if we miss out on the top four.

Additonally, not signing players and bringing excitement and a breath of fresh air to the club isn't going to persuade the likes of van Persie to stay, especially if we dobecause it's two on two all the time and they have more players in the box. Demba Ba and Shola Ameobi caused Rio Ferdinand and Phil Jones havock the other week when Newcastle beat Man Utd 3-0. Not that I think we should adopt their long ball style, but it's just another example of centre backs being a lot less comfortable when they have two strikers to worry about. Also, imagine how amazing van Persie would be if he had a partner with him.

This transpires to the fact that Wenger needs to do this, or go. He needs to sign a couple of players, or go. We need a manager who isn't afraid to spend money, and who is going to change the team's approach (i.e. 4-4-2 and play with more urgency and a game plan). Imagine if we had Demaba Ba and van Persie up front together. If we sign 2 players, we could be a very good side. But at the moment we are just 'decent'. We need a breath of fresh air and changing the approach and signing new players would do this. I know it's not easy to sign players in January bla bla bla, but come on, if you offer enough money, and go for the right players, there will be options. It's going to be more costly if we miss out on the top four.

Additonally, not signing players and bringing excitement and a breath of fresh air to the club isn't going to persuade the likes of van Persie to stay, especially if we don't manage to qualify for next season's Champions League.

The club needs a boost, the fans and the players need something to be excited about.

Time to freshen up and change, or go.

Match Ratings:

Szczesny 6
Djourou 6 (+1 for the assist, brilliant pass to be fair. Abysmal for most of the game)
Mertesacker 6
Koscielny 5
Miquel 5
Ramsey 5
Song 5
Benayoun 7 (Thought he was harshly taken off)
Walcott 6 (+1 for the goal, great run and finish. We saw a lot of that last season, hardly any this season, so that's more like it. Hope he does that more often now)
van Persie 7 (Scored and looked a class above anyone else on the pitch when on the ball, generally)
Arshavin 7 (Looked a lot better going forward today, best I've seen him play in ages in that department, but is a liability defensively)